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During its participation in Go Green Expo, Egypt’s First Exhibition for converting vehicles to run on natural gas and clean energy.

TAQA Arabia unveils its latest global technological solutions in natural gas sector for the first time in the Egyptian Market

 

Cairo - January 2021, Egypt-based TAQA Arabia, the leading -private sector energy distribution group and a subsidiary of Qalaa Holdings the leading investment company in the Middle East and Africa, participated in Egypt’s 1st Go Green expo with a vast pavilion showcasing the latest technologies and comprehensive solutions that will help in expanding the usage of Natural Gas especially for the automotive sector. This participation affirms the leading role of TAQA Arabia in developing the energy infrastructure in the local market. On a sideline, and during the exhibition, TAQA Arabia has signed several memorandums of understandings (MoUs) related to the expansion of its natural gas services to all clients.

 

Through its pavilion at the exhibition, TAQA Arabia showcased –for the first time in the Egyptian market- its latest technologies in the field of transportation, distribution and conversion of various types of vehicles and trucks to operate with natural gas and also, to meet the needs and demands of various customers in remote areas that are away of Egypt’s national gas grid.

 

During the exhibition, TAQA Arabia displayed a heavy truck and a pickup both operating by diesel engine, which were converted to operate by the dual-fuel technology, a revolutionary worldwide technology where all the needed modifications and tests were made in Egypt through Master Gas- a subsidiary of TAQA Arabia. This technology allows converting the various vehicle engines to run using both natural gas and diesel at the same time. The Dual-Fuel technology represents a quantum leap in the natural gas sector in line with the government’s plan to maximize the exploitation of the state's natural gas resources and provides the best economic and environmental alternatives for fuels.

 

Moreover, TAQA Arabia demonstrated the “Mobile CNG” technology, which has already been used to serve the company's clients' projects in various sectors, including the industrial and tourism ones. Mobile CNG is the technology that allows the transport of compressed natural gas through equipped trucks to areas of use that are not connected to the national gas grid yet. The Mobile CNG trucks are then connected to the gas infrastructure in each facility without the need to extend expensive pipelines while ensuring the continuity of supply of natural gas without interrupting allowing immediate link to the national gas network when it reaches the targeted areas without incurring extra financial and logistical burdens.

 

On a related note, the company presented its latest projects of Mobile CNG technology aiming at delivering natural gas to the New Valley Governorate - which is not connected to the national grid yet. This project is held under the auspices of H.E. Eng. Tarek El-Molla the Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources and Major General Muhammad Al-Zumlout, Governor of the New Valley governorate. This project will contribute to the development of the governorate and will help in attracting new investments in addition to TAQA Arabia's keenness to employ local technical employees from the governorate in which it operates in order to provide several direct and indirect job opportunities and help eliminating the unemployment rates.

 

TAQA Arabia also unveiled the Mobile Fueling Stations Technology, which are mobile stations for supplying the different kind of vehicles with natural gas. This technology is considered an alternative to fixed stations, especially in areas that are not linked to gas networks yet. The Mobile Fueling Stations Technology provides great ease of movement across governorates and roads, and it will also greatly contribute to reassuring and empowering owners of different vehicles and encourage them to convert to natural gas.

 

Furthermore, TAQA Arabia in cooperation with Terilla – a new startup sponsoring the "1000 Trucks for Youth Funding Initiative", exhibited the first heavy transport truck operating entirely with natural gas, which was imported with the latest international specifications. Moreover, TAQA’s pavilion witnessed the introduction of cylinders prototypes (natural gas tanks) manufactured locally for the first time in Egypt by "Aresco" a subsidiary of Qalaa Holdings.

 

From his side, Dr. Ahmed Heikal the Founder and Chairman of Qalaa Holdings said "The positive outcomes of the economic reform program and the fair pricing of energy announced by H.E President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi back in 2014, have begun to reap its benefits. At Qalaa Holdings, we have developed a strategic plan to increase our investments through our affiliated companies in the green energy field, especially in the natural gas and the vehicle converting sectors. The presidential initiative to convert and replace cars to operate with natural gas is certainly a step on the right way, to develop the Egyptian economy and maximize benefit from recent discoveries of natural gas, as they have positive effects including reducing the budget deficit and the trade balance deficit, as well as providing numerous business opportunities."

 

Eng. Khaled Abu Bakr -The Executive Chairman of TAQA Arabia- said "The presidential initiative to convert and replace vehicles to operate with natural gas, affirms that the Egyptian government attaches high priority, to the Petroleum Sector in general and natural gas in particular, that reflects a distinctive and important approach, because of its positive economic and environmental impacts on the society”. Abu Bakr added: “The expansion in the use of natural gas contributes to reducing petroleum imports and preserving the foreign currency, thereby we are keen to support the state’s strategy in this field by pumping new investments and continuing our expanding plan to build gas stations and provide a range of the state-of-the-art technologies and comprehensive solutions, which will contribute effectively to maximizing the benefit of natural gas in the Egyptian market."

 

Ms. Pakinam Kafafi –CEO of TAQA Arabia- expressed her pleasure to participate in the first Go Green exhibition and affirmed: "TAQA Arabia is the leading company in the field of natural gas in Egypt where the company has actively started establishing gas supply stations in Egypt since 2003. And over the last period, we developed a solid strategic plan to expand in the natural gas filed across different sectors, with a special focus on the automotive and transportation divisions through providing the latest global technologies to expand the usage of natural gas in all fields. Kafafi added: “We provide Mobile CNG trucks, equipped to match the size and usage of different facilities and all of this is operated through a highly trained team, in addition to ensuring the highest levels of safety for our customers. Furthermore, this technology complies with all environmental requirements”. Lastly, Kafafi affirmed that the company is targeting through Master Gas -a subsidiary of TAQA Arabia- to implement an ambitious plan to build several new gas stations, bringing the total to 200 stations including 50 stations dedicated to trucks, in addition to 100 conversion centers across the country by 2023."

 

It is worth noting that TAQA Arabia is the leading company in the field of energy distribution in the private sector in Egypt, covering also the Middle East and Africa.  The company invests and operates in energy infrastructure, including gas transmission & distribution, conventional and renewable Power generation & distribution as well as marketing oil products and lubricants throughout several fuel stations across the country. Through its three operating arms and its 3,400 employees, TAQA Arabia operates 24/7, serving more than 1.3 million customers in Egypt through 5 billion cubic meters of gas, 1,000 megawatts of energy, 58 fuel stations, and 50 megawatts of renewable energy.